Newly elected Senator Joni Ernst has been selected by Republicans to deliver the rebuttal speech to President Obama's State of the Union Speech. Mitch McConnell has called her the "perfect choice", I suppose because she is only one of six Republican women in the Senate, and Republicans need her to offset the impression of an old white boys club that reserves the Senate swimming pool to themselves so they can swim nude. But are her personal views really the new face of the Republican Party...the perfect choice? It will be interesting to see how much she is allowed to speak freely, but as a two week newbie in Washington, I expect the Republican establishment will vet her speech carefully.

Joni Ernst is probably best known for pig castration jokes during her successful campaign. Maybe she'll lead off with another castration joke to lighten things up...perhaps a "Let's make 'em squeal," with subtle references to Democrats and President Obama's manhood.

I'm sure she would like to talk about the personhood amendment that she sponsored while in the Iowa State Senate, more specifically, "the inalienable right to life of every person at any stage of development shall be recognized and protected." She shares that view with many on the religious right in her party. However, McConnell will likely censor any lines that make reference to personhood.

As a State Senator, Ernst said she would support legislation that would not only “nullify” Obamacare in Iowa, but also allow "local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement" Obamacare. Kind of drastic if not outright ignorant. So I doubt McConnell will let her use the words "nullify". It'll be "repeal" with the usual words of answering to the wishes of the America people.

What will Ernst have to say about the Republican House first order of business for 2015: passing a bill to overturn President Obama's "lawless" executive actions on immigration including Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) from 2012...also known as the Dreamers? Will she reiterate the worn out Republican talking points: No amnesty for the "illegals"? Secure the border first. Step up deportations. But, of course, no mention of how some 11 million "illegals" can be practically deported. It doesn't matter...it sounds good. Nevertheless, using the Homeland Security budget as a tool to block Obama's immigration measures can backfire on Republicans.

I expect that Ernst will talk about Republican values, and stopping Obama's "reckless policies" and "unconstitutional executive actions", but otherwise nothing substantive other than perhaps privatizing Social Security and Medicare, cutting taxes for the "job creators", cutting bureaucratic regulations especially those associated with the EPA, approving the Keystone Pipeline, Climate Change denial, cutting food stamps, etc. with all kinds of adjectives added to make Republicans feel good.

Will anybody be watching...or listening? Pig castration jokes may go over well in Iowa, but she'll need more than that to appeal to a national audience.

Schmidt Wrote: Will anybody be watching...or listening? Pig castration jokes may go over well in Iowa, but she'll need more than that to appeal to a national audience.

I'm a political junkie, so I will be watching both the State of the Union address and the Republican rebuttal.

The Republicans can put pretty much anyone in front of the camera and the speech would be the exact same: freedom, defense, and patriotism. Sprinkle in the customary 'our debt is unsustainable' and get a jab or two in about an 'out of control President who wants to take your God given rights away' and you have the Republican response. It doesn't really matter who is giving it.

Is anyone else planning to watch the speech tonight? If so--what channel do you usually watch it on?

I try to always watch some of the major 'news' networks pre-coverage of the speech because I do think it's important to know what the vast majority of people who watch the speech are subjected to during the lead-up to the speech. It's like their Superbowl. When I've tired of that I usually switch over to PBS. They typically do a superb job of actually reporting the address and don't tend to sensationalize things. They can also bring me back to sanity after watching the various 24/7 channels for awhile.

I admit to watching all of the SOTU speeches on MSNBC, but not a big fan of Chris Matthews. I occasionally switch channels and watch/listen to what Fox News is saying afterwards, but sometimes I think that we must have watched two different speeches.

I'll be watching the State of the Union speech on whitehouse.gov in a few minutes, and I'll also be watching the rebuttal speech.

If you're wondering why the hog castrater from Iowa will be giving the rebuttal speech, the short answer is that she is a very good friend of the Koch brothers. In addition to the fact that she attended Koch-sponsored meetings in New Mexico in August of 2013 and in California in June of 2014, she has been active with the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council..

It's 10:00 pm. I'm watching on Al Jazeera America. The speech is completely predictable. The reply is completely predictable. It's a sad thing that Partisan politics are a stain on our country. One day I may have to consider if a house on a Caribbean Island may suit me better. Canada sounds like a good choice but I'm not a fan of the cold weather.

[url=https://www.democratichub.com/user/105882.aspx">lonely bird[/url] Wrote: Iirc, boehner said her story is an essential american story.

Only in America can an idiot like her get elected.

Phoney Jonie! She represents the worst of the worst all rolled up in one - Sarah the ½ gov, Michelle the Christian loonie, Jan the biggot and let's not forget the "I'm not a witch" fool from Delaware!

There is something about conservative, Republican women that highlights the very worst of politians in general and our political system specifically. No wonder the rest of the world just shakes their heads in disbelief at our society!

Yes in a way I almost feel sorry for her and the other women that Republicans have put forth to carry the Republican rebuttal message. Joni Ernst's speech seemed so scripted and lacking in passion and ideas. Stopping ObamaCare and approving the Keystone pipeline is all she could muster up as concrete ideas. Wow. Expectations were built up ahead of time with pundits citing her hog castration jokes. I'll admit that she certainly looked well groomed and so Republican...but she just didn't deliver a message that could resonate. Maybe its the message.

Schmidt Wrote: Yes in a way I almost feel sorry for her and the other women that Republicans have put forth to carry the Republican rebuttal message. Joni Ernst's speech seemed so scripted and lacking in passion and ideas. Stopping ObamaCare and approving the Keystone pipeline is all she could muster up as concrete ideas. Wow. Expectations were built up ahead of time with pundits citing her hog castration jokes. I'll admit that she certainly looked well groomed and so Republican...but she just didn't deliver a message that could resonate. Maybe its the message.

Yeah, I saw a small part of it and then turned it off; typically she boosted herself by stating she was in the army (luitenant?) and proud of that etc. that alone made me feel sick.

Of course Joni spoke of Keystone. All repubs are in favor of it. She also spoke about the November elections as if the repubs wins indicate that they represent a more than 50% of the over all coverage. If Keystone passes and if the veto is over turned......... I would love it if the pipeline went through her Iowa farmland.

This air-head beginner tries to make Americans think she is some kind of issues expert, when all she really "knows" is how to castrate a hog. I understand that she is a valid representative of the Republican Party, and believe me when I say they can have her. It all sure makes me sad and embarrassed. I was born, raised, and educated in Iowa, but her audacity and ineptness makes everyone think that all Iowans are like this, and that simply is NOT true. Maybe she will dig her own grave and disappear.

"Ernst's Family Farm Benefited From Substantial Farm Subsidies. Ernst's family farm in Red Oak, Iowa received over $460,000 in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2006. Family members received conservation payments, commodity subsidies, and agricultural aid. [The District Sentinel, 1/12/15]"

I just had a feeling that her story of "bread baggies" on her feet (in the winter) could be bogus. She was born in 1970, and with all those heavy Farm Subsidies pouring in, she would "never" have been even slightly "poor" --- so she would have been wearing the best & most expensive BOOTS to school. Even in IOWA, they do have Fashion, & girls like to look nice. Somehow, I doubt she was spending too much time wading in the hog slop.

Why didn't someone TELL her, that what she said was supposed to be a RESPONSE to the Democratic Presidential Speech? It sure made her look stupid, (even if beautiful) when her entire speech had NOTHING TO DO with responding to the President's speech?

By the way, thanks for the information about Farm Subsidies to her Family Farm. And the links that show how Joni Ernst is in bed with the Koch Brothers, too. --- Great research, guys!!

Joni Ernst seems to have a lot of baggage in addition to her bread baggies. Her adoration of the Kochs and how they helped her buy the Senate job needs to be made public. Will the media give her a pass? The funding by the Kochs and the government subsidies to the family farm are two of the things she should be asked to explain. But hey, maybe she doesn't have to...her next election is 6 years away and she doesn't have to give any "real interviews"...maybe just the Fox News kind.

She indeed seems to be another air head, so she better bone up on issues before she opens her mouth again.